Florida Department of Health in Lake County Environmental Health

The Florida Department of Health in Lake County establishes sharps disposal program

Lake County – Beginning January 2, 2013, Lake County residents may pay $15 to safely dispose of biohazardous medical waste, such as syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets, at the Umatilla Health Center located at 249 East Collin Street in Umatilla between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents will receive a new replacement sharps disposal container.

Sharps are just one category of biohazardous waste and include needles, scalpel blades, glass and pipettes that are used or contaminated with body fluids. Biohazardous waste must be disposed of according to federal, state and local regulations. Used needles and other contaminated sharps must be placed in a puncture-resistant, leak-proof container that is closable and is red in color or marked with a biohazard label. Residents should never dispose of needles in household recycling or garbage bins.

Sharps are objects having the potential to puncture or lacerate and include syringes with attached needles and disposable lancets. Improper disposal can cause problems ranging from placing other residents and waste management workers at health risk, to clogging lift stations when disposed in the sewer system. Sharps can transmit Hepatitis, AIDS and other fluid-borne pathogens. As the health care industry moves toward increasing the number of procedures patients can do at home, such as self-administered insulin, the safe disposal of used Sharps is a public health concern.

For more information regarding the program please call 352-589-6424, x 2264